Well I recently bought my RX-7 (1994), and the guy told me before hand that the A/C didn't work. Well I was cool with that because I figured it would be an easy fix. Little did I know that the car still has the old style A/C system which is r12 instead of r134a. I've been looking around this weekend and asking people what I should do about recharging the system and eventually stumbled onto the fact that r12 is pretty hard to come by in the US without importing from another country.

I already called the Mazda dealership in Palm Springs and asked them if they had the conversion kit and they said that they don't and only independent shops would carry them. So I'm kind of at a crossroads right now...

So my question is whether it would be easier (and cheaper) to just acquire some r12 and recharge the system with that, or to just convert the car over to r134a.


P.S.- A/C is not my strong point, so don't hit on me too hard haha

 

If you plan on keeping the car a while it will be far easier and cheaper in the long run to just convert the system over to R-134a. If done properly you will be very happy you did it.

 

Dont convert. View this thread. https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/recharging-c-options-opinions-needed-959485/


John

 

Thanks for the answers guys.

I've been looking alot recently and decided to keep using R12, but I'm definitely gonna upgrade to ES-12a once I figure out what all needs to be done to my A/C system.

Now with that, I'm looking at buying the "Econ Master Recharge Kit", I believe is what it's called. And with that comes 2 cans of ES-12a, 1 can of stop leak, 1 high/low fitting, and 1 charging hose. Is there anything else I need to "do it myself"? Do I need the R134a adapters? Do I need any sort of valves to regulate the flow? Also, if R134a adapters are needed, where is the easiest place (and cheapest) to find them?

Thanks a lot guys.

 

do not convert unless you have to buy a new compressor... Now what you can do is just buy a couple cans of r-12, it is about 40 bucks a can, test it out, maybe you will be lucky and there is no work needed on it. make sure you do flush the system and put a vacuum on it for 30 minutes minimum if you do this. r-12 is more effective than r 134a. if you do convert, make sure you change all the o-rings and compressor, there is no guarantee for how long your r 12 compressor will work with the newer freon. do NOT go with a blend refrigerant because not a lot of shops have the tools or equimpment to service it. if you are lucky, you could probably get away with about 350 dollars in parts to get your ac working. pm me if you want details. I am actually a certified a/c tech hahahaha

 

so to run the es-12a, do you have to do anything besides evacuate the system first? or do you have to change the fittings to 134a??

 

https://www.rx7club.com/my-junk-your...freon-1040126/
IT pays to look in the ads.
https://www.rx7club.com/my-junk-your...freon-1040126/